My favorite, and never ending, personal project involves rooftop expeditions to document the city’s continual transformation. I’ve made some signature images that have ended up leading to related assignments from unexpected quarters, like this set I made between 2020 & 2022 featuring Nairobi’s GTC Complex, still under construction.
Fast forward to November 2022.
The good guys at GMP came across these images online and reached out to discuss a possible collaboration. The development was approaching the handover stage and they needed feature images to tell the story of the project. This unassuming set of images, coupled with my body of work in architectural photography, was the reason this assignment came to be.
That said, let's dive right in.
But first, Planning.
Excited to get started, we had to do thorough some pre-shoot planning and for good reason. It was the first time working with this particular client which meant that we needed to be on the same page with regard to the clients’ brief and expectations in terms of the result they were after. I have an already-established style, but they also have a policy on how all their images should look so as to retain a cohesive body of work on their end hence the need to strike a balance in terms of what they were after and my workflow & output.
We studied project together and I familiarized myself with the building's design and architectural details. We identified the key features that they wanted to highlight in the photographs.
After planning, Scouting.
This, in my opinion, was the most intense bit of the assignment and it took about a few weeks. The main aim was;
1. To scout for the ideal frames that bring out the best of the project. It involved numerous trips to the site at different times of day just to study the light and the ensuing challenges and thence how to overcome that.
2. To secure the correct vantage points that show how the towers interact with each other and with the surrounding real estate while offering the best views of the buildings.
3. To develop a shot list so that we had a predictable modus operandi on the shoot days. Time was limited and so was the window for the perfect weather to shoot.
The most important aspect was to establish the optimum weather and light patterns necessary to achieve a consistent-looking image set that reads as one unified project instead of a series of random snapshots. I made notes on the images so that come shoot day, I knew exactly where to be for specific shots so that I can maximize on the quality and intensity of the prevailing light.
Scouting the locations ahead of time allowed me to be more efficient during the main shoot. I already had a plan in place for the shots I wanted to take, the vantage points I wanted to shoot from and the kind of weather to look out for. This saved me time and allowed me to focus on capturing the best shots possible. My networks really came through by helping me get good spots with the ideal views to the project, but, I still had to go around knocking on doors in search of alternative vantage points.
Time to shoot? Yes! And No.
With the shot list in hand and vantage points locked, I got started on making the main shots, or so I thought. Somehow, the weather wasn't exactly right for a couple of weeks which meant I had to wait a bit longer and postpone the shoot a few times just so that everything was perfect.
Once the conditions were somewhat ideal, the sequence was as follows;
Stage 1. ‘Distance’ Shots; CBD, Upperhill, Community, Lavington etc. This meant multiple trips to multiple rooftops for both sunrise and sunset shots.
Stage 2. Exterior & Aerial Shots; This was over multiple days and took the entire day. Sunrise to Twilight.
Stage 3. Interior shots; This was mainly to showcase some of the interior details as well as the stunning views you can catch from the upper floors.
With every stage, I had to share the draft shots for the clients’ feedback before getting on with the editing. We had to reshoot a number of the frames, some severally, just to make it perfect.
A couple of locations became inaccessible at the last minute so we had to scout and secure new ones which was a win for us because these new locations ended up yielding better results than those other spots. In essence, the shot list kept morphing as we shot which is pretty much an expectation for each shoot because something will most likely force you to adjust your plans.
Ok. Now let's edit, & Photoshop a few things.
After a couple of days' worth of shooting, we had solidified the exact shots that made the final list for post-production.
I made a series of shots from different angles and perspectives, paying attention to the lines, shapes, and textures of the buildings. While capturing the details, we also kept in mind the overall mood and atmosphere that the buildings evoked.
Once we had captured the images, we spent time post-processing them to enhance their beauty and clarity. We adjusted the contrast, brightness, and saturation to ensure that the images were vibrant and eye-catching but, true to the look and feel that already exists. The idea was to embellish what was there, not exaggerate.
In addition to basic enhancements, we had to remove any unwanted elements. If architects didn't put it there, then it had to go but more on this in a subsequent post.
For now, let's look at the final results.
First up, the stars of the show: OFFICE BLOCK & HOTEL TOWER.
The office and hotel towers had a sleek and modern design, so we chose to take photos that emphasized its clean lines and minimalist aesthetic.
Next, the supporting cast; APARTMENT TOWERS & ROOF GARDEN.
The apartments on the other hand had a grand and ornate facade, so I used lighting and composition to highlight the grandeur.
Followed by a few 'behind the scenes' characters; INTERIORS
This is what the general public doesn't get to immediately see. Notice the minimalist approach, unity of tones between the outside and interiors, and of course, those sweeping stunning views that go on for miles and miles.
Not forgetting, context; DISTANCE SHOTS
To give the viewers a sense of the building's surroundings, we made a series of shots showing the project in context, highlighting their relationship with the surrounding environment & infrastructure.
Neat, huh?
Once the buildings are acceptably occupied and operational, we also hope to return and make shots of people interacting with the buildings, either walking in or out, to give the images a sense of scale and purpose.
But wait! There's just one more thing.
Remember this Halflife in Architecture experiment from a shoot in 2022? I said I’d try it out again and I'm glad I managed to pull it off! Stoked by the result by the way.
The two shots were taken 6 hours apart, from the side of a busy road. I had to set down and set up again in between the shots, because safety & security, while making sure that the setups are as close as possible on both scenarios.
It was frustrating especially because the camera wasn't at eye level and I had to shoot tethered to avoid any sort of camera shake. Add to that the windy conditions and vibrations around the scene.
Totally worth the trouble considering the results I got.
There you have it!
Capturing the essence of a building requires a combination of research, planning, and flexibility. By taking the time to plan the assignment, capture the details, and showcase the buildings in context, we were able to create a series of architectural photos that brought out the beauty and elegance of the project while giving an honest representation of what is actually on site.
Careful post-processing played a crucial role in enhancing the images and ensuring that they conveyed the intended mood and atmosphere. The end result was a series of authentic photos that celebrated the strengths and abilities of the architects.
I'll leave you with a couple of short clips showing the set up for the the halflife images above.
ADIOS!
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